The Oscar-winning actor was showing a group of male pals around his Hollywood Hills home when he asked them to make sure they relieve themselves outside - to stop wild racoons coming too close to his property.

According to the National Enquirer magazine, he said: "Hey, whenever you guys have to go, feel free to come out here and urinate in the yard."

The group thought the 72-year-old screen legend was making a joke and burst out laughing.

He recently revealed he was considering being eaten by vultures when he dies.

He quipped: "I've had several ideas. Once I thought it would be nice to be buried under a large statue that is at least ten metres high. Then I liked the nature of the Indians who haul their bodies up into the trees so that they are eaten by the birds."